Finding the right moisturiser for your skin
HAVE you noticed your skin getting drier, especially as winter draws near? Australia’s climate is a lot drier than the tropics many international students are used to. But before you rush out to buy just any moisturiser, Roseanne Tang’s got a few tips on choosing and using the right products.
Why Hydrate?
We know moisturising our skin is important, though most of us don’t exactly know why. Besides the obvious reason of eliminating dry and flaking areas, moisturisers help to maintain and keep skin smooth, supple, firm and luminous. Without moisture, cells shrivel up and look aged, and are more vulnerable in a polluted environment.
There are different types of moisturisers out there, and can be differentiated according to their oil to water ratio.
Some important ingredients in moisturisers include humectants like glycerin, which attracts water, and sodium hyaluronate, which locks in moisture.
Know Your Skin-Type
If you have dry skin, go for an oil-based moisturiser that will absorb nicely into your skin. This will help eliminate flaky areas, plump skin and help to reduce the appearance of fine lines. Shea butter, propylene glycol and alpha hydroxy acids are key ingredients in moisturisers for dry skin. Products we like include Philosophy Hope in a Jar and Egyptian Magic Cream.
If you find your skin is dry around the cheeks but oily around the T-zone (forehead and nose), then you’ve got combination skin. Combination skin works well with an oil-free and water-based moisturizer.
People with normal skin should also keep their skin hydrated with a water-based moisturiser.
Go for an oil-free or gel moisturiser if you have oily skin. These moisturisers are usually water-based and won’t irritate your skin or end up clogging your pores. Product suggestions include Biotherm Aquasource, Non Stop Oligo – Thermal Gel, Elizabeth Arden Radiance Boosting Moisture Lotion and the Skin79 White Skin Radiance Cream.
But if you feel like you have very oily skin, you should just skip the moisturiser altogether. Your skin produces enough of that and you don’t need to overload your skin with more of what it already has.
How to Apply
You would have heard of the phrase – cleanse, tone and moisturise – when it comes to skincare, and it’s a good little routine to follow.
After cleansing and toning, apply the moisturizer with clean fingertips. Use only a nickel size amount of the product. Place the product between your hands and warm it by rubbing your palms together. Then, gently press the product in upward strokes into the skin until the moisturizer has been fully absorbed.
And there you have it – there’s no reason why you have to be a flake this winter.